Tobacco-box.



I E. C. SPENCE.

TOBACCO BOX.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24. 1914.

1,178,548. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

WITNESSES: Y W i/v/l'v 6%57766 m B Y A -TTOR/VEY THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

TOBACCO-BOX.

'sp eeiflcatiohof igetters I 'atentj Application filed October 24, 1914. Serial No. 868,366. I

' To all whom it may concern:

. made in sizes suitable for the usual one.

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. SPENcE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new I and useful Improvements in T obacco-Boxes, of which the following is-a true and exact specification.

My invention relates to tobacco boxes, and has for its principal object to provide'a receptacle or box, having a spring actuated lid, into which a sack of tobacco will fit snugly, it being understood that the box is ounce and larger sacks; to provide a receptacle of the above description which is provided with means for releasing thespring cover by using only the thumb or finger of the hand in which the box is held, thereby leaving the other hand free to hold the pipe or cigarette papers into which it is desired to pour the tobacco.

A further object is to provide removable or hinged means for holding the mouth of the tobacco sack open and against the sides of the box.

By the use of the herein described tobacco box, the tobacco is not removed from the original package as purchased, is kept in a dry and sanitary condition at all times, is not allowed to be wasted by spilling from the mouth of the sack, as is usual with the sack as in general use, having a puckering string for closing said sack; is prevented from becoming crushed and ground fine by being carried in the pocket without any protecting casing or box. 7

Other objects will'appear as my invention is more fully described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail of a cover hinge.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 designates a box, of substantially the shape shown, having a cover 2. The box 1 and cover 2 are connected together by a hinge pin 3' which is provided with a spring 4:, the inherent energy of which tends to throw the cover open. The cover 2 is held closed by means of a spring latch 4 attached thereto, and having an outwardly sloping shoulder 5 which, when the cover is closed, fits into a slot 6 in the box 7 1. The cover 2 is'also provided with a small pro ect1ng knob 7. When it is desired to open the box, an. upward pressure of the thumb or finger upon the knob 7 is sufiicient matters-.11,1916.

to release the latch shoulder 5 from engage- .ment with the slot 6, thereby allowing the cover to fly open under the influence of spring 4. A spring sack retainer and spreader 8,

which is in the form of an open rectangle of substantially the same dimensions as the in-' side of the box 1, retains the mouth of a sack 9 against the sides of box 1, and also spreads the mouth of the sack. The function of the member 8 is to hold the sack mouth snugly against the inside of the box 1, thereby preventing the sack 9from falling out of the box 1, when the latter is tipped to pour its contents out upon a cigarette paper or into a pipe, and also to prevent the mouth of the sack from collapsing during such operation, which of course is liable to occur unless the sack be entirely full. The sack retainer and I spreader 8 is easily'removable and is so removed when the' sack within the box is empty of tobacco, thereby allowingsaid sack to be removed and a full sack put in place .of the empty one. The retainer is then again replaced. I y

While I am aware that many forms of tobacco boxes are common, yet the objects attained as above outlined are believed to be new.

It is obvious that'many minor changes in construction and operation will suggest.

themselves to anyone skilled in the art, and

I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact form and construction shown.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is I 1. In an article of the class described, the combination of a box adapted to hold a sack of tobacco, spring means for holding a to: bacco sack against the inside of said box and for also preventing the collapsing ofth V mouth of the sack. a V, s

2. In an article of the class described,the

combination of a box having a smooth and of substantially the same size as the inside uniform outer surface With means for holdof the box. 7 ing a filled sack against the inside of the box and for also holding the mouth of the sack against collapsing despite an almost Witnesses: empty condition of the sack, said means in FRED P. GORIN, eluding a removable, open joint fiat spring R. D. SMALLEY.

EDWIN G. SPENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

